Edgar guarantees victory in Henderson rematch

ABS-CBN News

MANILA, Philippines – Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) lightweight champion Frankie “The Answer” Edgar vows to get his belt back when he takes on reigning titlist Benson Henderson in the main event of UFC 150.

“Ben Henderson will not defend the belt. I will take it home,” Edgar vowed in a pre-fight interview with UFC. “I am going to beat Ben Henderson, and my hand will be raised on August 11.”

“The belt belongs to me, Frankie Edgar,” he added.

Edgar lost the championship to Henderson in a highly competitive, entertaining fight at UFC 144 last February. All judges gave the bout to “Bendo” with scores of 49-46, 49-46 and 48-47.

Still, Edgar remains convinced that he was the rightful winner of the first fight.

“I did think I won the fight. I think I landed the good punches. I felt I got good takedowns,” he said. “I kinda fought how I usually fight. It was close, it was controversial.”

According to Bloody Elbow, Edgar had four more takedowns than Henderson. But towards the end of the second round, Henderson landed a vicious upkick to Edgar’s face that nearly knocked him out.

Edgar survived the round and managed to extend it to the championship rounds.

Edgar is confident that he will be more successful in the rematch, noting, “I’m undefeated in rematches.”

“(It) means I adjust pretty well in between the first fight and the second fight. I make adjustments. He makes adjustments,” Edgar said.

“Then we all just think, ‘What adjustments are he going to make?’ ‘What adjustments am I going to make?’” he added.

“It’s definitely like a chess match in the rematches.”

But he said that much like the first fight, he is expecting a tough battle against Henderson.

“I know Ben was gonna be tough. I know it wasn’t gonna be an easy fight. I’m expecting the same go-around this time. I just have to be a little bit better,” Edgar said.